ATU athletic facilities staffer saves lifeRegular visitors to Thone Stadium at Buerkle Field or Tucker Coliseum know Judie Dyer from her role as a member of the athletic facilities staff at Arkansas Tech University. One person knows Dyer as something even more — a lifesaver. Dyer was recently recognized by the Russellville Fire Department (RFD) for her role in saving the life of a fellow diner at a local restaurant. In a letter from Capt. Christopher Vick of the RFD, Dyer was commende...

Piece of history returned to the DepotTravis and Debbie Beard carefully placed an antique clock on a table inside the Historic Russellville Depot on Wednesday. The clock was a fixture in the train depot decades earlier and was gifted to the Beards 25 years ago. “It was given to me by Mr. John Joe Harris,” Travis said. “He owned the railroad cars across from the train depot. He knew that I liked antiques and he surprised me one day by giving me the old clock. He told me it used to ...

Police seek felony charges on driver who injured local veterinarianLocal veterinarian Dr. David Oates was injured at approximately 5:26 p.m. on Thursday after being struck by his own vehicle that was struck by another driver, a 21 year-old male, who was, according to the accident report, both under the influence of alcohol and texting on a cellphone. The driver, Dane G. Wooster, appeared in felony bond hearings on Monday and is facing charges of second degree battery. Wooster had his bond set at $10,000 by Di...

Clarksville Armory makes endangered listLITTLE ROCK — Preserve Arkansas’ 2016 list of Seven to Save: Arkansas’s Endangered Places is composed of a Mid-Century airport terminal building; a former National Guard armory and youth center named after a prominent African American community leader; a rural, vernacular church; a late 19th Century residence; a railway station; and the home of one of the Little Rock Nine. Two properties were also two named as “Ones Worth Watching” and another...

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Courier staff reportsThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Havana man pleads guilty, gets 20 yearsDANVILLE — A Havana (Yell County) man pleaded guilty in Yell County Circuit Court and was sentenced to 20 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction (ADC),. According to the 15th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Gary Carter, 32, pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance, a Class D felony, theft of property, a Class B felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia, also a Class D felony. In addition to the 20-year...

Pope JPs green light part-time hireThe Pope County Quorum Court, on the recommendation of the Personnel and Budget Committees which met Thursday, approved a request from Circuit Clerk Diane Willcutt to hire a part-time employee to enter old case files into the county’s Context computer software system. “It’s a short-term position,” Willcutt told the Personnel Committee. “We’ll do it until the end of the year, then report how much got done and revisit it at that time.” She also ...

Lawsuit dismissed, to be refiledPlaintiffs, David Ivy and Danny Cothren had to dismiss their lawsuit against the Crow Mountain Fire Protection District and some of its board members just before the deadline on May 18. That doesn’t mean it’s going away, however. Ivy said Saturday the suit would be filed again some time by Friday. The suit was dismissed over one word, but it still has all the original merit, Ivy explained. “Nothing has changed,” he said. “The only reason for t...

County approves $215,000 to purchase buildingThe Pope County Quorum Court voted 10-2 Thursday to purchase the building west of the county courthouse in Russellville at a cost of $215,000. Justices of the Peace David Ivy and Lane Scott voted against the appropriation. Voting in favor were JPs Philip Haney, Doug Skelton, Reuben Brown, Jackie Heflin, Mary Metz-Blaylock, Caleb Moore, Bill Sparks, James Kusturin Jr. and Blake Tarpley. Don Daily was absent. Moore explained initial offers of $1...

Teenagers receive 20 years for escape attemptDANVILLE — Two 18-year-olds pleaded guilty last month in Yell County Circuit Court to escape and two counts of second-degree battery and were each sentenced to 20 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction (ADC). According to the 15th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Kevin Lee of El Dorado and Clifton Frazier of Camden each pleaded guilty after they attacked and injured two guards at the Yell County Juvenile Detention Cente...

Dover choir takes part in Disney programLAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Dover High School choir entertained Walt Disney World Resort guests from across the nation and around the world with their performance on May 26 at Disney Springs. Under the direction of choir director Carrie Taylor, the Concert Choir put on a dynamic show that featured vocal medleys, including songs from the hit Disney animated feature, “Beauty and the Beast.” During their five-day stay, the Dover High School stud...

PCLS plans busy summerWith school out and the summer approaching, the Pope County Library System (PCLS) has several events planned, including their annual Summer Reading Program (SRP) set to kick off Saturday and run through June 30. Tammy Montjoy, outreach services and marketing librarian, said this year the SRP will be slightly different. “It’s not going to be the normal SRP. We are revamping it some to see if it works better,” she said. “It will be shorter but s...

Woman kicks police officer, resists arrest over $100 billKayla R. Rogers, 24, thanked the man she allegedly stole from for “sending her to jail,” according to a report by the Russellville Police Department. Rogers was arrested on May 30 after Russellville police were dispatched to the 600 block of West J Street in reference to a theft of property. When officers arrived on scene a man told police he had a $100 bill lying on the coffee table in the living room of his home when he noticed it was missin...

Bond hearings (June 3, 2016)The following individuals appeared in felony bond hearings with District Judge Don Bourne on Wednesday inside the Pope County Detention Center. Their names, ages, bond amounts and anticipated charges are listed. If charged, they will appear in Pope County Circuit Court. • Michael P. Hettel, 27, fraud — $10,000 Hettel is facing fraud charges after he allegedly attempted to pay for a meal at Sonic with a counterfeit $100 bill. Hettel handed the ...

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Compiled by Jenn TerrellThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Teams, sponsors sought for Walk for Alzheimer'sThe Alzheimer’s Arkansas River Valley Walk Planning Committee is gearing up to host another successful walk this coming August. “Right now, we are really trying to get teams registered and round up our sponsors,” said Tara Dollar Kelley, event chairman. “Walk teams are the heart of our event.” Walk teams work together to raise funds and awareness for Alzheimer’s Arkansas. Corporate, community and family teams, as well as individual walkers, ma...

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Courier staff reportsThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Local man dies in Yell County car accidentLITTLE ROCK — A Russellville man lost his life in a motor vehicle accident last weekend in Chickalah in Yell County, two other passengers were injured. Christopher J. Myers, 38, of Russellville was driving a 2014 Dodge pickup truck north on State Highway 27, according to a report from the Arkansas State Police (ASP). The truck went off the roadway at around 9:07 p.m., hit a driveway and overturned, and ejected the driver. Myers was pronounced ...

Drive led by Tech students, faculty growsArkansas Tech University’s Because We Can student organization had already organized a successful drive to provide hygiene items to Russellville School District students in need during the spring 2016 semester. Saturday morning, ATU students and faculty members took the project to another level when a truck carrying 44,000 bottles of Dove body wash donated by Unilever arrived in Russellville. The driver was greeted by Because We Can members De...

Quorum Court to consider building purchaseJustices of the Peace on the Pope County Quorum Court will consider buying the building west of the county courthouse in Russellville, currently owned by David Vance, during today’s meetings. The Personnel Committee will meet at 4:45 p.m. today to consider a request from Circuit Clerk Diane Willcutt to hire a part-time position to be paid from the Recorder’s Cost Fund. Members of the committee are Mary Metz-Blaylock, chair; Don Daily, Philip H...

Learning how OEM worksThe Pope County OEM did a presentation for a group of kids from Happy Campers Preschool on Tuesday. Jerry Evans, Kevin Wolfe and Justin Drittler gave a presentation on water safety and gave the children a tour of the equipment used by the Search and Rescue team members. For part of the water safety talk, Evans put on a life jacket and explained the importance of wearing one. He then asked for a volunteer and put the same life jacket on one of ...